Bruce riled by gift goal

Sunderland manager accuses Liverpool of 'unsportsmanlike' conduct in scoring what he described as a 'joke' opening goal

Roy Hodgson and Steve Bruce go head-to-head over the controversial goal (Roy Beardsworth)
Steve Bruce has accused Liverpool of "unsportsmanlike" conduct in
scoring what the Sunderland manager described as "a joke" opening
goal in their 2-2 Premier League draw yesterday.

The goal, which was allowed to stand by controversial referee Stuart Attwell,
saw Liverpool forwards Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt take advantage of
confusion over the taking of a defensive free kick. Attwell ruled that
Michael Turner has taken the set piece by back heeling the ball towards
Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

The "pass" was intercepted by Torres and squared for Kuyt to knock
past the protesting goalkeeper. Bruce claimed that Turner has merely been
attempting to move the ball back to Mignolet to allow the goalkeeper to take
the free kick from the correct position on the pitch.

"The first goal was a joke," said Bruce. "An absolute joke. The
only person in the ground who thought the free kick had been